Tabulating mechanism for typewriting machines



July 2, 1935. w. H. BOAL TABULATING MFICEANISM FOR TYPBWRITING MACHINES Filed Dec. 26, 1931 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l gmnmtoc W61] fer H Baal.

July 2,1935.

7 W. H. BOAL TABULATING MECHANISMFOR TYPEWRITING MACHINES Filed Dec. 26, 1951 2 Sheeis-Sheet 2 Patented July 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,006,983 7 TABULATING MECHANISM FOR TYPE- WRITING Delaware MACHINES Ill., assignor, by mesne ood Elliott Fisher Com- Application December 26, 1931, Serial No. 583,303

/ 21 Claims.

This invention relates to typewriting machines and more particularly to the tabulating mechanism thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide for 6 lockingthe tabulator keys and for automatically releasing same when the tabulating movement of the carriage is completed.

Another object of the invention is to cushion the arrest of the carriage movement to prevent l undue shock or jar.

A further object is to lighten the action of the tabulator keys, by causing the carriage, when advanced to a new position, to store power for the retraction of the tabulator blades.

A still further object is to provide tabulating mechanism, including a variable stop, acting to arrest the carriage without shock and coacting with means on the carriage to store powerfor the retraction of the tabulating mechanism and 20 serving to cause th keys.

Another object is to provide a mechanism serving to cushion the carriage, unlock the tabulator keys and retract the tabulating mechanism.

Another object is to provide tabulator retracting springs which also serve as carriage cushioning springs.

To the accomplishment of these objects one embodiment of the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended 35 claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion o'f an Elliott-Fisher typewriter equipped in accordance with my invention; the parts being shown in the position they occupy'when a tabu lator key is locked down and a tabulator blade is in interfering relation with the carriage cushi'oning device and the tabulator stop at the moment of key release;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the carriage cushioning device and the unlocking bail;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail "perspective view showing the tabulator stop and parts mounted thereon;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a portion of the, typewriter showing a tabulator key-unlocked and the retracting springs under tension;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the unlocking bail, detached;

e unlocking of the tabulator Figure 6 is a grouping of various stages of the tensioning of. the retracting springs.

My invention relates to a tabulating mechanismand particularly to a tabulating mechanism for typewriters, for instance, the Elliott-Fisher typewriter of commerce. The general organization of the tabulating mechanism of these well-known machines is disclosed in Patent No. 1,280,697 to H. A. Foothorap.

Machines of the class described include a. 10 frame, of which only the tabulator bar I, is shown, which supports a carriage 2, the casing 3, of which has a cover 4, upon which is mounted a series of tabulator keys 5. When a tabulator key 5, is depressed, connections which include a tabulator keylever 6, and a rod 1, connected thereto, cause a rock-shaft 8, to rock and thus swing one of a series of tabulator blades 9, by means of a link connection I0, into the plane of a variable stop II. Since, as usual, the carriage 2, is released to travel at the time the tabulator key 5, is depressed, its movement will bring the tabulator blade 9, into engagement with the stop II. Ordinarily, upon the release -of the key, a retracting bail I2, swung from the blade shaft I3, retracts the blade under the impulse of springs I4, assisted by the key retracting springs 6 In accordance with my invention the tabulator key 5, when depressed is automatically locked by the engagement of its notched stem with the flange I5, of the locking bar I6, swung upon its bearings I I, by the springs I8, connected to the casing 3. The tabulator key remains locked until the tabulating movement of thecarriage has been complete I I To unlock the key, when the carriage has come to rest, I provide an unlocking bail I9, mounted upon the shaft I3, and including side arms 20, and 2|, connected by rods 22, to which 40 is secured 'a comparatively wide contact plate 23. It will be particularly noted in Figure I that the retracting bail I2, has springs I4, connected to the forwardly extended portions 20 and 2I of the arms 20, and 2I, respectively, of the unlocking bail I9, because the present invention contemplates putting these springs under abnormal tension for reasons to be described later.

When coincidentall y with the depression and locking of a tabulator key 5, a tabulator blade 9, is swung back into apath obstructed by the variable stop II, the movement of the carriage to its next position is designed to operate a carriage cushioning device 24, mounted on the stop H. This cushioning device, when thus operated serves to operate the unlocking bail l9, and release the tabulator key through suitable connections comprising a rod 25, and a slotted bracket 26, secured to the locking bar IS.

The carriage cushioning device 24, includes a contact slide 21, normally projecting beyond the left side of the stop H, and connected to a spring-retained bell-crank lever 28, fulcrumed on the stop H, in a suitable housing. The bellcrank lever 28, has pivoted to one arm, the contact slide 21, as stated, and to the other arm is connected a bail operator 29. When the carriage is released in the usual manner and travels to its new position, its arrest is cushioned by the engagement of the projected tabulator blade with the contact slide 21. As the slide yields, the bell-crank 28, is swung to shift the bail operator 29, forward, to engage the plate 23, and operate the unlocking bail 19.

The described operation of the unlocking bail by the carriage, as it comes to rest, accomplishes important results. First, as its movement is resisted by the blade retracting springs, it increases the tension of these springs which thus become part of the carriage cushioning mechanism. Second, it stores power in these springs for the retraction of the tabulator blades thus permitting the employment of comparatively weak key retracting springs, and third, it unlocks the keys to permit the retraction of the tabulating mechanism as the carriage is finally arrested by the tabulator stop.

The unlocking bail I9, when swung, elongates the springs l4, and thus increases their tension and when the key is unlocked, the springs, in which power has thus been stored, will swing the blade retracting bail l2, to retract the tabulator blade and assist the key retracting springs to restore the operating connections to normal position. This happens when the springs have been tensioned and the arm 2|, draws back the rod 25, which swings the locking bar I6, out of engagement with the notched stem of the key 5, allowing the described retraction of the entire tabulating mechanism.

It will be noted in Figure 6 that the springs I4 at a. are first elongated to the rear, as at b, by the action of the tabulator blade bearing against the tabulator blade retracting-bail when the key is depressed. A second bail causes the springs to be elongated further in the opposite direction, as at 0, when it is abnormally tensioned by said bail operating to unlock the key. As at d, tension is released by the operation of the blade retracting bail returning the blade which is now possible with the unlocking of the key. Finally the springs resume their normal position, as at e.

By utilizing blade retracting springs in which power is stored by the carriage, the burden of retraction placed on the key retracting springs is materially lessened. Therefore, I am enabled to use comparatively light key retracting springs which materially lightens the action of the tabulator keys.

A description of the operation of my invention is as follows;

When a tabulator key is depressed and locked, the tabulator blade has been swung back into the plane of the carriage cushioning device and stop on the tabulator frame. The carriage travel when released brings the blade into engagement with the slide which yields and operates the bail operator to exert pressure on the contact plate of the unlocking bail which is caused to swing. This tensions the blade retracting springs by the time the blade finally arrests the carriage, by contact with the fixed stop. The springs, under tension, perform a dual function. They cushion the arrest of the carriage movement and operate the unlocking bail which through suitable connections releases the key from its locked condition. The tabulating mechanism, upon the unlocking of the key, is retracted to normal position.

It is thought from the foregoing, the arrangement and operation of the illustrated construction will be clearly understood, but I reserve the right to effect such structural modifications and variations as may come fairly within the scope of the protection prayed.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a frame and carriage of a tabulating mechanism including stops, a stop retracting bail, retracting springs connected to the bail, and a contact member movable on one of the stops and operated by the carriage and means for opposing the retracting springs to the movement of the contact memher.

2. The combination with a frame and carriage of a tabulating mechanism, retracting springs therefor, and a contact member and a retracting bail cooperatively related to opposite ends of the springs, said contact member being disposed for actuation by the carriage.

3. The combination with a frame and carriage of a tabulating mechanism including stops on the frame and carriage, a stop retracting bail, a second bail, a contact member arranged to be moved by the carriage and to move the second bail, and a spring connected to both bails.

4. The combination with a frame and carriage of a tabulating mechanism including keys, and retracting springs, a key lock and means yieldingly opposing the final movement of the carriage to prevent jar and operative to store power in the retracting springs and to operate the key lock to unlock a key.

5. The combination with a frame and carriage of coacting tabulator stops, a movable contact member mounted on one stop and operated by the carriage, a bail operator actuated by the contact member, a bail mounted on the carriage and operated by the bail operator and springs opposing the movement of the bail.

6. The combination with a frame and carriage of a tabulating mechanism including stops on the frame and carriage, a stop retracting bail, a second bail, a contact member arranged to be moved by the carriage, a bail operator actuated thereby to move the second bail and a spring connected to both bails.

7. The combination with a frame and carriage, of a carriage stop, adjustable on the frame, a carriage cushioning device mounted on the stop and a stop mounted on the carriage to directly and successively engage the cushioning device and carriage stop.

8. The combination with a frame and. carriage, of a tabulator stop on the frame, a contact member movably mounted thereon, tabulator stops on the carriage, and a spring mounted on the carriage and resisting the movement of said contact member on the frame.

9. The combination with a frame and carriage, of coacting tabulator stops, a contact member carried by a stop and movable thereon, a ball operated by the contact member and a spring opposing the movement of the bail.

10. The combination with aframe and carriage, of coacting tabulator stops, a movable contact member on one stop to cushion the arrest of the carriage, a bail mounted on the carriage and operated by the contact member and a spring opposing the movement of the bail to assist in the cushioning of the carriage.

11. The combination with a frame and carriage, of a tabulating mechanism including a stop movable into and out of its operative position, a retracting spring for said stop and means operated by the carriage to store power in said stop retracting spring.

12. The combination with a frame and carriage, of a tabulating mechanism including a stop movable into a plane obstructed by another stop, a spring for retracting the stop, and means including said stop retracting spring, for cushioning the arrest of the carriage.

13. The combination with a frame and carriage, of a tabulating mechanism, including stops, a stop retracting bail, operating springs for said bail and means for opposing said springs to the movement of the carriage.

14. In a typewriter the combination with a frame and carriage, of tabulating mechanism including keys, key locking mechanism, means operated by the carriage to operate the key locking mechanism for unlocking the keys and for storing power for their retraction.

15. In a typewriter the combination with a frame and carriage, of tabulating mechanism including keys and stops, key locking mechanism and means including a carriage-operated member mounted on a stop and movable relative to the stop to operate the key locking mechanism to unlock the keys.

16. The combination with a frame and carriage, of tabulating mechanism including coacting stops, unyielding in the direction of carriage travel, of carriage cushioning means including a spring and means whereby said spring will serve as a retracting spring for the tabulating mechanism.

17. The combination with a frame and carriage, of tabulating mechanism including coacting stops, at retracting spring for said mechanism and means operated by the carriage against the resistance of said spring to cushion the arrest of the carriage and to store power in the spring for the retraction of the tabulating mechanism.

'18. The combination with a frame and carriage, of a tabulating mechanism including a co-acting stop on the frame, a contact member thereon and a carriage cushioning spring mounted on the carriage and opposing the movement of the contact member on the frame to cushion the final portion of the tabulating movement.

19. The combination with two relatively movable elements, to wit, a frame and carriage, a stop on one of said elements, a contact member movably mounted on the stop and a spring mounted on the other element and opposing movement of the contact member relative to the stop.

20. In a machine of the class described, tabulating mechanism including coacting stops and keys, key locking mechanism releasable to unlock a depressed key, and a .device associated with one stop and movable relative thereto to 'unlock a key when engaged by another stop.

21. In a machine of the class described, tabulating mechanism including coacting stops and keys, a key lock movable to locked and unlocked position, a member mounted on a stop and yield able relative thereto to operate the key lock to unlock a key when engaged by another stop and serving to cushion the arrest of the stop la'st named.

WALTER H. BOAL. 

